Closure for a container

Abstract

A closure (40, 240) for a fluent substance-containing system, such as a container, includes a body (54, 254) for receiving the fluent substance from the system, an actuator (60, 260) assembled with the closure body (54, 254) for selectively preventing or permitting flow of the fluent substance through the closure body (54, 254), and a shell (56, 256) that is mounted around at least a portion of the closure body (54, 254). The shell (56, 256) has a top end (156) and a blocking member (176) having an initial configuration and a separated configuration. In the initial configuration, the blocking member (176) is connected to the top end (156) to prevent the actuator (60, 260) from moving into an open, dispensing position. In the separated configuration, the blocking member (176) is at least partially separated from the top end (156) to allow the actuator (60, 260) to move into the open, dispensing position.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A closure for a system having an opening between an exterior of the system and an interior of the system where a fluent substance may be stored, said closure comprising:
 A. a closure body that can be located at the system opening and that defines a through passage for communicating with the system to accommodate the flow of a fluent substance through said closure body; 
 B. an actuator that is rotatably mounted to said closure body for occluding said through passage of said closure body to prevent flow of a fluent substance through said closure when said actuator is in a closed, non-dispensing position and for permitting flow of a fluent substance through said closure when said actuator is rotated to an open, dispensing position; and 
 C. a shell that is mounted around at least a portion of said closure body, said shell having a top end and a blocking member with an initial configuration and a separated configuration, wherein in said initial configuration said blocking member is connected to said top end to prevent said actuator from moving into said open, dispensing position, and wherein in said separated configuration said blocking member is at least partially separated from said top end to allow said actuator to move into said open, dispensing position; and
 wherein said blocking member defines a projection extending laterally from a portion of said blocking member, and said actuator has a top end defining a sloping back region, wherein in said initial configuration, said projection extends laterally over said sloping back region. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A closure for a system having an opening between an exterior of the system and an interior of the system where a fluent substance may be stored, said closure comprising:
 A. a closure body that can be located at the system opening and that defines a through Passage for communicating with the system to accommodate the flow of a fluent substance through said closure body; 
 B. an actuator that is rotatably mounted to said closure body for occluding said through passage of said closure body to prevent flow of a fluent substance through said closure when said actuator is in a closed, non-dispensing position and for permitting flow of a fluent substance through said, closure when said actuator is rotated to an open, dispensing position; and 
 C. a shell that is mounted around at least a portion of said closure body, said shell having a top end and a blocking member with an initial configuration and a separated configuration, wherein in said initial configuration said blocking member is connected to said top end to prevent said actuator from moving into said open, dispensing position, and wherein in said separated configuration said blocking member is at least partially separated from said top end to allow said actuator to move into said open, dispensing position; and
 wherein said blocking member defines a laterally-extending projection and said shell has a generally cylindrical outer wall with a finger recess formed therein, said projection extending laterally outwardly toward said finger recess in said initial configuration. 
 
 
     
     
       3. A closure for a system having an opening between an exterior of the system and an interior of the system where a fluent substance may be stored, said closure comprising:
 A. a closure body that can be located at the system opening and that defines a through passage for communicating with the system to accommodate the flow of a fluent substance through said closure body; 
 B. an actuator that is rotatably mounted to said closure body for occluding said through passage of said closure body to prevent flow of a fluent substance through said closure when said actuator is in a closed, non-dispensing position and for permitting flow of a fluent substance through said closure when said actuator is rotated to an open, dispensing position; and 
 C. a shell that is mounted around at least a portion of said closure body, said shell having a top end and a blocking member with an initial configuration and a separated configuration, wherein in said initial configuration said blocking member is connected to said top end to prevent said actuator from moving into said open, dispensing position, and wherein in said separated configuration said blocking member is at least partially separated from said top end to allow said actuator to move into said open, dispensing position; and
 wherein said closure body is provided with a pair of diametrically-spaced ribs and a pair of diametrically-spaced snap-fit beads extending between said ribs, and said shell is provided with a pair of diametrically-spaced slots and a pair of diametrically-spaced snap-fit beads extending between said slots.